The combination of adrenaline and anxiety confirmed to this construction-worker-turned-correction officer that he made the right career choice.

"It was like a day never to be forgotten," said Affinito, 58, during a interview at his office in the county jail. He retired Friday.

He said the codes, meaning an officer is in need of assistance, only reinforced the necessity of teamwork that has helped him during a 30-year career that included four years working at the jail and stints as a sheriff's officer in the head of the security team at the county courthouse and as a deputy in the road patrol unit.

"I needed a job where I was working all the time," said Affinito, reflecting back to his early law enforcement days in 1984, when he and his wife, Vilma Affinito, were expecting their first child. "I thought it would be an interesting career path."

At the time, he was 27 years old.

His training officer handed him a set of keys and radio and told him to pay attention. It was a day he would never forget.

"It was learn as you go. The place was dirty, it was basically a wide-open facility," said Affinito, noting the inmates ate all their meals in the recreation area, which meant they were out of their cells a lot more often than today.

There were not enough radios for all the officers, he added.

"It took about six months before we got a complete uniform because they wanted to make sure you were going to stay on the job before they spent the money," said Affinito.

In 1988, he moved to the department's civil division, handling evictions, picking up people with outstanding warrants and helping out the patrol division.

He recounted the heartbreaking nature of the job and the squalid conditions of some of the homes children were living in while their deadbeat dads drove around in nice cars and lived comfortably.

"After a while, you just get cold to it because you can't let it affect you or any of your judgments," Affinito said of his coping mechanism.

When he first started, there were two weeks of basic training at the police academy. Today, new recruits get six weeks of more comprehensive training — including everything from defensive tactics to interpersonal communication skills — at the academy and tend to be more educated, Affinito said.

Despite the improved training, Affinito, who has served as the department's firearms instructor since 1995, said the department's officers learn about real police work in the field.

"Your real training starts once you hit the streets, once you hit the tiers of the jail, the day-to-day stuff that you're going to deal with," he said. "The academy only prepares you but the streets teach you."

In 1986, Affinito volunteered to attend instructor school to be able to teach. Over the years, he has become certified to teach general topics, firearms, active shooter and patrol rifle.

"I thought I could make a difference," he said about his decision to become an instructor. "We went from no training to all of a sudden an abundance of training."

During his long career, Affinito has worked for four sheriffs.

Sheriff Dominic Dagostino said he thinks the "world of him (Affinito) and will miss him."

"He's been a tremendous asset who is well-respected in the law enforcement community when it comes to training and firearms," said Dagostino, who has known Affinito for two decades.

He credits Affinito with helping the department obtain eight higher-powered AR-15 rifles in 2010 to supplement the Glock .40-caliber handguns they carry.

"Johnny didn't always tell you want you wanted to hear. He would tell you what you needed to hear, and to me his opinion was always worthy."

Tom Fiorillo is one of dozens of deputies and correction officers Affinito has had a positive influence on during their careers.

"Affi took a lot of pride in his job and work and wanted to do the best he could," said Fiorillo, who has been on the force for 28 years.

He also said that Affinito earned a reputation as a practical joker.

"He was a jokester who liked to have a good time, but was very serious when it came to doing the job," said Fiorillo, noting that Affinito often spent extra time working with officers on their shooting proficiency. "He was a very good trainer."

Harry Buffardi, who served as sheriff from 1999 to 2008, praised Affinito as a man with "personal courage."

"He was a bonding force who people gravitated toward during problematic situations at the jail because he's brave and courageous and will always fight, and I don't necessarily mean physically, to do the right thing," said Buffardi, who served as county sheriff from 1999 to 2008. "He was the guy that was always in front that didn't back down from nothing or no one."

But Affinito will not completely retire. He plans to turn his full attention to his personal business, Northeast Firearms Training, which trains civilians in firearms safety.